The Alpha's Daydream ✔️

Chapter 29

This is Beta Hamilton when he wants to be intimidating 😏

4350 words

"Ariella. Sit."

With that simple yet powerful command, I instantly plop down onto the nearest sofa, my hands twisting around themselves in my lap. I swallow convulsively, my throat drier than the Sahara, as the Beta stands in front of me and crosses his arms across his impressive chest. I can't believe the amount of trouble I'm in now, caught snooping in his house like this.

"Why in all the universe did you break into my house?"
His hazel eyes bore into me with an intensity that raises my heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety all with one glance. Hamilton is angry with me, but it's more than that. I see the hurt in his eyes, and I hate having disappointed him like this.

Opening my mouth, I scramble for an excuse. "I...it's uhh—"

"You better have a completely honest answer. Or else don't bother answering at all," he tells me in a clipped tone. He commands, demanding the truth and I realise I don't want to give him anything less.

"I came here to talk about Harlow."

"She's not here. You'll have to wait until she comes back from her friend's."

"No, I said I want to to talk about Harlow. Not to her."

Hamilton slowly sinks onto the couch opposite me, his posture not yet relaxed, his hands open and ready for action if need be. I recognise the alert readiness about the Beta that is second nature to all wolves of high rank.
"Did something happen? Is there something I should know about?"

I shake my head. "Not exactly. Just little things." I decide I can ask about Harlow, their parents, the cake Luci ate some of—anything but the Violet girl. I don't want to bring that up now. I'll ask Malachi first-hand when I'm ready. "Just little things. Is she...does she..." How on earth do I ask if she's ever been Malachi's girlfriend? Won't that make me sound insecure and petty? "Was there ever something between her and Malachi?"

Hamilton's left eye twitches, the vein in his temple throbbing with the reflex. "Something? I'm not sure I understand..."

"You know, like a close friendship...a relationship?"

"Relationship? Ariella, I'm not su—"

"Did they ever like each other?" I blurt out, growing flustered.

Hamilton presses his lips together quickly, staring at me with a puzzled frown like I just asked if the moon is round. "You're joking, right? Of course they like each other, in a totally normal way for two wolves who grew up together, practically as siblings. Malachi cares for her as much as I do, as her older brother. What exactly do you mean, do they like each other?"

"Okay, let me rephrase this," I look up at the ceiling, wondering why God created guys to be so dense. "Is there any possibility Harlow has feelings for Malachi, and is upset with me for being his true mate?"

There. I said it. I finally asked what has been weighing on my mind ever since the sassy shewolf and I met.

"No. There's not. She knows her mate is out there. She's not stupid enough to begin caring for someone who's not her mate," Hamilton gives me a rebuking look, and I shrivel under the gaze.

He makes me feel like a six year old who asks the dumbest questions. I change tack.
"You're right. I'm sorry, it was ridiculous of me to even think that." Pushing my hair behind my ears, I look over at the picture on the mantle, my eyes lingering particularly on Violet. "Of course they're just friends."